A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
